A natural attraction

"And I've learned how to fall while keeping injuries to a minimum," he added.

As a high school junior, he's eager to enter Harbin Sport University to further learn the theories and techniques of snowboarding.

"I used to be a troublemaker in other people's eyes. After I picked up snowboarding, I no longer felt confused and decided to engage myself in the sport for a future career," he said.

In contrast, Wang Haofei, 18, a schoolmate of Yang, regards it as a lifelong hobby that allows him to have fun and make more friends.

Wang took up snowboarding last year and was sponsored by a snowboard brand. That gives him the free entry to Jiangjunshan Ski Resort in Altay and 2,000 yuan ($314) of sponsorship money every month.

Before his junior year in high school, he would often go to the Jiangjunshan Ski Resort to practice snowboarding techniques after school.

"The ski resort was tranquil under the curtain of night. When riding and carving turns on my snowboard, I felt free and jolly," he said.

During that day, I followed him as he slid down from the mountains in the Keketuohai International Ski Resort and found that he's really a kind of social butterfly.

He frequently gesticulated to greet skiers or snowboarders zipping past us on the slope.